2. Better defense. Some mistakes are unavoidable; Adam Dunn is going to be an adventure in left field. But Ryan Zimmerman is better than this, and he knows it.

3. Better, more-patient at-bats. I finally started to see this late in Wednesday's game, especially during the attempted ninth-inning rally. A little more of that approach earlier in games, and the Nats could knock the opposing starter out sooner.